A long time ago, in a theater not that far from The House on the Hill, Star Wars: The Force Awakens opened.

As much as I was dying to see the flick, I don’t like going to packed theaters, waiting on long lines, or having to deal with annoying moviegoers. So I put off seeing the highly anticipated seventh entry in the Star Wars franchise while I desperately dodged spoilers.

In a well documented failure, the Force was not with me on Christmas Day when I first attempted to see it.

I searched my feelings today, Modern Philosophers, and realized that the time had finally arrived to try again.

I got to the theater a half hour early, and was relieved to discover I was the fourth person in line. When the doors opened, I bought my ticket, skipped the concession stand, and was the first person inside the theater.

This allowed me to sit in my favorite spot, the first row in the upper section, which allowed me to stretch my long Monkey Boy legs.

No disturbances in the Force yet.

The previews seemed to go on forever, but once that familiar LucasFilm logo appeared, I sensed that I was surrounded by the light. All was well.

I was immediately transported back to a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…

And I was as giddy as the seven year old boy, who watched Star Wars: A New Hope in absolute awe.

I’m not going to give away any spoilers, Modern Philosophers, even though I’m pretty sure I’m the last person in America to see this movie.

What I will say is that I was moved to tears several times during the film, and that wasn’t due to the fact that anything upsetting happened.

I just got nostalgic seeing old friends on the screen, hearing their previous adventures discussed, and realizing that a new hero had arisen in the Star Wars canon.

We all knew that the characters from the original trilogy were back, but I wasn’t prepared for how seeing them again was going to make me feel.

Hell, I wiped away a tear when the Millennium Falcon made its first appearance.

The revelation of The Force Awakens, however, was Daisy Ridley as Rey.

She is the star of the movie, despite the presence of bigger, more familiar names, and she definitely delivers.

While the original trilogy was Luke’s story, and the prequels focused on Anakin, this trio is going to be all about Rey, if The Force Awakens is any indication.

Of course, this Modern Philosopher had to form some Deep Thoughts on the meaning of that. Since the stories have thus far focused on the Skywalker clan, does this mean that Rey is a member of the family?

Dysfunctional family issues seem to be the Sun around which the Star Wars galaxy revolves. That theme is back for sure, but it’s Rey’s lineage that has me curious.

I have to admit that at times, I felt like I was watching a Time Travel edition of Star Wars: A New Hope. Did anyone else feel that way? It’s like J. J. Abrams took George Lucas’ blueprint for the original, gave it a modern spin, and went with a female protagonist.

I’m not complaining, though. I absolutely loved the flick.

My one major complaint is that Kylo Ren’s voice bothered the Hell out of me.

I liked the character, dug his mask, and want his lightsaber, put I much preferred it when he took off his mask and talked to us as Kylo Driver.

Come to think of it, the bad guys seemed a lot badder than in the first six films. Supreme Leader Snoke, gave me the creeps. There might even be a nightmare in my immediate future. Emperor Palpatine was a doddering old man compared to the massive evil presence that is Snoke

I got a total Nazis vibe from The First Order, especially in the scene where the entire army is amassed and there’s that enormous flag hanging on the stage.

What I guess I’m trying to say, Modern Philosophers, it that my Force has been awakened! I loved the movie, it’s got my mind racing a mile a minute, and I want to see the next two immediately!

I’m so glad I was able to use the Force to block out spoilers and not have any plot points ruined.

I definitely want to work on a new screenplay right now because Star Wars inspired me to be a writer, and seeing this new entry has me eager to write again.

I love that these movies have such a positive effect on me.

Did you like The Force Awakens, Modern Philosophers? Who do you think Rey’s parents are? Do you agree that The First Order is much scarier than The Empire? Who wants to go see it again with me?

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22 Responses to My Force Has Been Awakened!

I thought it was a pretty good remake of the original. First Star Wars I have seen since 1983 – I didn’t bother with the prequel trilogy. Kylo Ren wasn’t as dark as Vader – came across to me as an ‘Emo Vader’ but maybe that’s coming in the sequels.

I was so relieved that they bypassed creating a new annoying Jar-jar like character to make me want to scream.
I LOVED that, for the first time, the “hero” just happened to be a girl and she WAS the undisputed hero…not some heroine created to help bolster a “stronger, more powerful” male hero. I love that kids everywhere, regardless of gender, are going to want to be her on the playground.
Yeah… I loved the movie, too!

I saw the movie with my love and in-laws on Christmas Eve, in a lovely old-fashioned movie theater of the kind that has one screen, a balcony, and a popcorn machine in the too-cramped snacks stand. The balcony, unfortunately, was closed to only Supporters Of The Theater “today”.

It took me a while to figure out just what about the movie struck me the wrong way. I think it’s that it doesn’t open with the 20th Century Fox fanfare. Yes, that’s probably it. They needed the fanfare.

Thank you for a fantastic overview, Austin!
I haven’t went yet, but am planning to do so. Can you believe, I’ve only went to one Star Wars movie? I was 16 with a brand new driver’s license, so I took my little brothers to Return of the Jedi. I loved the movie, hated the speeding ticket I earned on the way home. My force wasn’t as good as yours!